Altamonte Agrees To Help Rebuild Road

September 5, 1986|By Terry Osinski of The Sentinel Staff

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS — Property owners with road improvement assessments of up to $25,000 persuaded commissioners to share in the cost of rebuilding Jasmine Road because it has become a popular shortcut from residential roads south of State Road 436 to the highway.

Commissioners Wednesday acted as the Board of Equalization to listen to residents' concerns about the projected $164,000 cost of adding drainage improvements and widening Jasmine Road from 16 to 20 feet. A dozen property owners were assessed between $9,174 and $25,335 at $70.57 per frontage foot to pay for the project.

The property owners had agreed to upgrade the road as a condition to the city's approval to increase the zoning in 1982 from residential to professional office.

Dr. Jose Borrero, who owns a house and an office on Jasmine Road, said four years ago an engineer estimated the cost at about $32,000 and he thought the city's estimate was high. Borrero was assessed $9,315 for his home and $13,691 for his office.

City Manager Phil Penland said the assessments were only an estimate and will be readjusted after the project is bid. He said owners will only have to pay the actual cost of the improvements.

''We don't mind carrying our fair share,'' said Newman Brock, an attorney with an office at 620 Jasmine Road assessed at $9,315. ''The public uses that road intensely and we think the city should pitch in to help.''

A property owner on the north side of Jasmine Road objected to chipping in $9,456 when he does not have access to the road. Ralph Karansky, owner of Midas Muffler on S.R. 436, said he was denied access to Jasmine Road five years ago because the road was considered substandard.

After listening to the objections, Commissioner Lee Constantine suggested the city pay the reconstruction cost, or 37.6 percent of the bill, which the city has absorbed on similar road improvement projects.

In the final motion, businesses without access were exempted until they asked for and were approved a curb cut to Jasmine Road. Also, residential homes were excluded from the assessment roll for 20 years or until they ask for a zoning change to professional office.

Penland said the assessments will be readjusted to reflect the 37.6 percent reduction. The project will be bid out within the next two months and work should begin by January 1987.